"Only when distress turns to remembrance and blame of others is erased, is pride extracted from our egos, humbleness settles in our hearts, and the door of grace opens." ~ A paraphrase from Kabir Dede. A heart-centering reflection for the... Continue Reading →
What does one say in the face of the unspeakable, as Thomas Merton called it? I know that I'm not the only one who's been deeply reflecting on this in recent days and weeks, even in the midst of the... Continue Reading →
“Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.” ~ Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J., Founder, Homeboy Industries Author, Tattoos... Continue Reading →
Happy Lùnastal and Full Moon lunar eclipse at the mid-Aquarius power gate. I've already written a bit about some of the Heartistry-inviting Energies (and themes) of Now, so I'll share a few things that surfaced intuitively this morning as I... Continue Reading →
"A tender heart is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be honored and protected, with all of the fierceness of a mama Lioness." Well, these are buzzy, Zap Zone days, rich in fiery, electrical energies that... Continue Reading →
July 22nd is designated as the 'feast day' for Mary Magdalene or Mariamene e Mara (which means Mariamne the Master) in various traditions that include feast days (and for those outside of those various traditions, too). The Wikipedia snapshot notes... Continue Reading →
In Dark-of-the-Moon-esque times, we rest into and align with the very Lunar, receptive, reflective energy of the coming New Moon in the very waters ruled by Luna. And then some. Tending, nurturing, slowing, receiving, rejuvenating, listening, dreaming, visioning, flowing, loving.... Continue Reading →
I wrote recently on "The Hidden Meaning and Beauty" of vandalism, neglect, and graffiti -- including the graffiti that we might not see as beautiful or sacred, but as (and fairly so) an example of ugliness and desecration. Blog brother... Continue Reading →
The heartful, soulful quest. The heart's yearning is its primary language. In her fresh musing, "Identity, Purpose and Destiny in Moana," Janet Chui writes, "The Sacred Feminine is strong in this movie. The female relationships are strong, supportive, and incredibly... Continue Reading →
"We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use... Continue Reading →
There's a Fiery Phoenix (and Phoenixing update) musing brewing -- stay tuned. The recent and current 'energy weather' is fiery, and as we know (yawn), that always amps up the Hissy Fit, Tantrum Yoga & Psychic Spew potential. On a... Continue Reading →
There's that old saying, "The proof is in the pudding." Riffing on that folk-wisdom saying, my own experience has shown me that "the proof is in the practice," as well. Anyone who has practiced anything for any period of time,... Continue Reading →
The Theologian Walter Wink and others have spoken of The Third Way - a radical concept in our (too often) "either/or", win-lose culture. Some traditions refer to the Divine Spark or Inner Light within us, which is hidden from us,... Continue Reading →
“The first steps toward the creation of wholehearted empowerment in our lives are to leave space for it and ask for it with sincerity. We can’t overlook the power of devotion to create the feeling of possibility in our lives.... Continue Reading →
Ariakerou at Imado – Lighted House, by Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915). PD-US.
“I build a lighted house and therein dwell.”**
This is a musing on well-lit houses, inner (and outer) gardens, being refuge and/or refugee, among other things.
In his July esoteric astrology letter, Phillip Lindsay shared the above ‘keynote’ for the archetype of the moon-ruled sign of Cancer, along with other powerfully insightful and inspiring observations and reminders.
(Thank you, Phillip. Kindred-spirit readers, you’ll find the link to Phillip’s full article below — highly recommended inspiration!)
We’ve recently had this Cancerian wellspring stirred, as the Sun did its annual meander through Cancer, along with Mercury and Venus.
Beyond these few weeks, the invitations and deep wellsprings of this deeply feminine, Yin-Water archetype are vitally important for these turbulent times we’re living in.
The same could be said for the ‘greater angels’ of each of the archetypes, and may it be…
More Ease. More Calm + Confidence. More Clarity & sense of purpose. 'Tis the season (again ... how did that happen so fast?). If you're super-eager to see the current early-December specials, hop right on over: Early-December Specials - Calm+Confident, Clarity+... Continue Reading →
As I watched, with a heavy heart, the acute and often venomous polarization leading into, through, and following the recent presidential election here in the U.S., I found myself thinking of my two grandmothers. My maternal grandmother, Anabel, was what... Continue Reading →
First question: How is the ancient (and timeless) notion of 'Sovereign Feminine Wisdom' connected to the energy, archetype, and story of Medusa - the 'gorgon-headed' one of myth? Second question: Why is this both timeless and very relevant right now,... Continue Reading →
Today I begin anew. Over the last week or so, I found that message - Begin Anew - arising within and around me more than once. First it simply arose in my awareness. Begin anew. Then, as I was walking,... Continue Reading →
For many horizon-edge walkers and vision-seeders, transformation agents, and similar culture-shifters, or just people trying to be decent and kind in a culture and world that seems too-often indecent and insane, transformation fatigue, apathy, and burnout are occupational hazards, ever... Continue Reading →
“I build a lighted house and therein dwell.”** This is a musing on well-lit houses, inner (and outer) gardens, being refuge and/or refugee, among other things. In his July esoteric astrology letter, Phillip Lindsay shared the above ‘keynote’ for the... Continue Reading →
“The whole art for the new humanity will consist in the secret of listening to the heart consciously, alertly, attentively. And follow it, go wherever it takes you. Yes, sometimes it will take you into dangers — but remember, those... Continue Reading →
"As we accept what is, we become people who stand in contrast to what is, freed from the aggression, grasping, and confusion of this time." "With that clarity, we can contribute things of eternal importance no matter what's going on... Continue Reading →
'Tis the Season of Lights ... or we're on the cusp of it, anyway. It beckons. Though not without its challenges, it's a potentially delicious time and Season-Spirit of the year ... lights sparking our own Divine Spark, and various... Continue Reading →
In this season (and greater time) of sifting the wheat from the chaff, and restoring the sacred to its rightful place in both the mundane and the lofty, it’s a fine time, too, to resurface this previous Sophia’s Children post on Restoring the World’s Lost Heart.
Mary Magdalene with the Alabaster Jar, by Anthony Frederick Sandys.
“In a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, some portion of its lost heart.”
~ Louise Bogan, American Poet, and the fourth Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress (1897-1970)
Surely, if news headlines are any clue, the world has lost a good portion of its heart, and calls out for the restoration of its lost portions.
Restoring some portion of the world’s lost heart is the point of the Hero’s (or Heroine’s) Journey, or at least one of the shining facets of The Journey.
Bridge in the Woods (1885-86), by Rafail Sergeevich-Levitsky (1847–1940). Image courtesy WikiCommons.
Those who’ve walked (or, like me, stumbled and crawled for a fair bit of) The Journey will know the truth in what Joseph Campbell…
It's fun to play with the new moon, particularly today's new moon in Leo, an archetype that includes 'playfulness' as one of its qualities, among others that are truly empowering. Read on ... There's a powerful alchemy of which today's... Continue Reading →
Dark new, crescent moon. Public domain photo from NASA.
Greetings, fellow Sophians.
Here’s another lovely and timely musing from Anne Whitaker from her Writing From the 12th House blog, with a mention of another kindred spirit sister, Molly Hall. Double the insight and good!
And it’s perfect for this Dark Moon, or Moondark, time that we’re in (and since it comes each month, and in any other Deep Yin time (meditation, night, etc.), it’s always a good time for this insight).
With the new moon arriving tonight (Eastern Time, and then through the crescent moon in a few days), it’s a good time to rejuvenate, restore, and re-collect, and listen deeply for your Heart’s true yearnings that can inform the vision-seeds for this lunar cycle.
So gather yourself back to center, call home your exiled selves, and see what new insights and brilliant questions — the ones that open up the most whole-hearted possibilities — arise from the wellspring within your deepest core and heart of hearts.
I was born in the very last hours of Moondark…and find that it’s best to note Moondark periods in my new diary each year. At these times, each month, I find that I need even more time than usual (having several 12th House planets anyway) to retreat, be in silence, drift, and dream…let my mind wander.
This is what I am able to do today, on the last day of Moondark. I’d be interested in others’ experiences of this phenomenon – and its impact especially at those times which happen to us all, when LIFE requires us to engage, to be busy, to stay focused. What are you doing today as you wait for the Cancer New Moon tomorrow?
Having googled “Writing about Moondark”, I found this fine article, a compilation of others’ writings by astrologer Molly Hall. (see full attribution at the end.) It is well written and…
"In each of us dwells a wanderer, a gypsy, a pilgrim. The purpose here is to call forth that spirit. What matters most on your journey is how deeply you see, how attentively you hear, how richly the encounters are... Continue Reading →
Are you tuning in at this Medusa-flavored new moon to receive Wisdom from the depths? For those with a two-second attention span, at this new moon you're invited to call Wisdom and heartfulness 'down to Earth' to illuminate and guide... Continue Reading →
"A compassionate or loving consciousness has ancient roots, but it is taking on a new importance as our world becomes integrated ecologically, economically, and culturally." "Because we now share one another’s fate, it is increasingly clear that promoting the well-being... Continue Reading →
Yesterday we dove into flowing Piscean waters and the great sea (or Great She?) of being. So how about today we balance those elements and dry off a bit with some flame-tending and earth magic? I'm appreciating two beautiful musings... Continue Reading →
I love this post, and the music that Boštjan shares! It's really in sync with the current Energies of Now: We're in the dark moon just before the upcoming Aquarian new moon (the 2nd in the sign). The twin-set of... Continue Reading →
Ariakerou at Imado – Lighted House, by Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915). PD-US. 
Mary Magdalene with the Alabaster Jar, by Anthony Frederick Sandys. 
Bridge in the Woods (1885-86), by Rafail Sergeevich-Levitsky (1847–1940). Image courtesy WikiCommons. 
